Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-04-29
LINCOLN Ar GETTYSB IRA.
The Competition of His Wonderful
Address Described.

IRON the New AoIh SUM-
81 saw one Of the most splendid Of com
positions in the English tongue written
said cx Congressman Edward Mcpherson,
while chatting about some of his recolec
tions of Lincoln recently. II believe that
it is admitted now by scholars that for sub
Unity Of thought, simplicity and yet ele-
gance Of expression, lucidity and purity Of
diction, Mr. l.incoln's brief Grafton at the
dedication Of the National cemetery at Get
tysburg takes place with the loftiest speci
mems of oratory. Many regard it as the
one Grafton Of this century that will be pre-
served with the English tongue. Yet Mr.
Lincoln wrote it on his knee in railroad
car. II was practically an extemporaneOus
composition that is in the sense that it
was wholly unprecedented He simply
committed to paper the thought that was
upperunost in his mind, and he had no idea
whatever that he had written anything
more than a passing thought in the event
that he was to assist in concentrating
II represented the Gettysburg district in
Congress at the time of the battle, and at
the dedication of the cemetery, Mr.. Lin
coin was my guest He was not sure that
he could be present when he was first ask
ed but said that he should 20 to Gettys-
burg if possible | think he was not pre-
pared 10 say positively that he would 20
until a very few hours before the time set
for leaving Washington 50 he could not
have given any thought to the Grafton be
fore. ! was his seat mate in the car, and
though he talked pleasantly, and spoke of
the country through which we were pass
ing, yet | thought he was laboring with one
of those spells Of profound melancholy with
which he was at times afflicted He spoke
of Mr. Everett, who was TO deliver the chief
Grafton and said that Everett ought to be
at his best. / knew that Mr.. Everett had
taken even more than his usual care in pre-
pairing this grafton, and looked upon his
work Us masterpiece, and ! believe told
Mr.. Lincoln 50. and ne said that the theme
was great enough to inspire such an orator
as Everett to his best
Mr.. Lincoln, think. had not thought
Of saying anything himself. but told him
that he would be expected to make few
remarks, for it would not he permitted him
to be silent. He sat for some moments alb
sorbed in thought, and at last began to feel
in his pockets as if for loose paper. ! ask
ed him if he wanted paper and pencil, and
he said Yes, a scrap of paper, and
opened my valise and gave him two or three
sheets of note paper He drew up his long
knees, and putting book on them, wrote,
/ Joltihs ubNHf ~ HhppOseu' lew htalS
| or suggestions. He wrote right along, with
out hesitation or erasure, and filled one
| page and part Of another. Then he fold
| ed it up and put it in his pocket, simply
saying that he had set down few lines
that had occurred to him to say.
AT the cemetery, at the proper time, he
arose, put ON his spectacles, and drew these
sheets from his pocket. | do not think he
had looked at them again after writing
them in the cars and in low voice, which
could be heard but few feet from the
stage, he read those splendid lines. The
few who heard him were most profoundly
impressed, but upon the vast throng who
saw him the Grafton made no impression
whatever because few heard him. Nc
proper report of the Grafton was made, ant
Mr.. Lincoln crumpled the manuscript uI
and would very likely have thrown it away
if had not asked him for it. 1t was no
until it had been printed in "A newspaper
and then widely copied that its wonderful
beauty, both in thought and literary work
manship was recognized, and Mr.. Lincoln
was very much surprised to learn thai
scholars were quoting it as the best mode
of pure English and true eloquence the Ian
guage had furnished, at least in America.